Recycled water network

Recycled water is wastewater that's been collected and treated so it can be re-used.

We own and operate 14 water recycling plants. Another two plants are operated by other companies on our behalf. Our Gerringong-Gerroa plant is operated by Veolia. The St Marys Advanced Water Treatment Plant is operated by Deerubbin Water Futures.

Our water recycling plants treat wastewater according to the Australian guidelines for water recycling. This ensures recycled water is safe and suitable for its intended use.

Recycled water can be used to:

water gardens, golf courses and parks

flush toilets

wash cars

fight fires.

It can also be used for some industrial purposes and to supplement river flow in the Hawkesbury-Nepean River. This saves water stored in dams for drinking and keeps the river healthy.

All of our water recycling plants use multiple steps to treat wastewater so it can be safely used again. The level of treatment provided depends on how the recycled water will be used.

There are four main stages of treatment – primary, secondary, tertiary and advanced tertiary plus disinfection. Depending on the recycled water end use, the treatment many involve some or all of these stages.

How to report faults, leaks and breaks

If your request isn't urgent, you can also contact us online. However, we can only respond to online messages during standard working hours (Monday to Friday, 8.30 am - 5.30 pm). This may can cause delays in possible emergencies.

How we assign priorities

We prioritise our response based on the:

information provided when the report is made

number of properties without water

potential safety impacts on customers, properties and the environment

amount of water that could be lost.

How we fix the problem

A repair crew will visit the site to fix the leak or break.

They may need to shut the water off to some properties while they're doing their work. They may also need to visit the site more than once.

Tree roots are a common cause of blockages. They can enter small cracks in your wastewater pipes to seek out nutrients and then continue to grow. As they grow, they take up more space and slow down your drainage. This can eventually cause a blockage.

Signs of a blockage can be:

slow drainage

gurgling noises in sanitary drains

odour

overflows in your home and property.

What can you do to prevent blockages?

Before you plant trees on your property, find out where your wastewater pipes are. A sewerage service diagram will show you. Simply get one online through Sydney Water Tap inTM

As a guide, don't plant trees within six metres of any wastewater pipes. Your local nursery can give you advice on trees and their root systems.

If you have existing trees and they're a problem, ask a plumber to set up a regular maintenance plan for you.

The only things you should flush are the three Ps - pee, poo, and toilet paper. While some brands of wet wipes might say that they’re flushable - they’re actually not!

Which trees should you avoid planting near wastewater pipes?

Tree species vary greatly in their ability to enter the wastewater system and cause damage.

The trees listed below are likely to cause problems to your wastewater pipes. We recommend that you
don't plant these species within six metres of a wastewater pipe.

Botanical name

Common name

Acer sp.

Maple (mostly large)

Araucaria sp.

Norfolk Island Pine

Bambusa sp.

Bamboo

Brachychiton Acerifolius

Illawarra Flame Tree

Callistemon sp.

Bottlebrushes

Casuarina sp.

Casuarinas or She-Oaks (especially River Oak and Swamp Oak)

Celtis sp.

Nettle-tree and Hackberry

Chamaecyparis/Cupressus sp.

Cedar and Cypress

Cinnamomum Camphora

Camphor Laurel

Erythrina sp.

Coral tree (large)

Eucalyptus sp.

Gum trees (large)

Ficus sp.

Figs (Moreton Bay Fig, Weeping Fig, Rubber Tree)

Fraxinus sp.

Ashes (large)

Jacaranda Mimosifolia

Jacaranda

Lagerstroemia sp.

Crape Myrtle

Liquidambar Styraciflua

Liquidambar

Lophostemon Confertus

Brush Box

Magnolia sp.

Magnolias (large)

Melaleuca

Paperbarks

Metrosideros Excelsus

New Zealand Christmas Tree

Morus sp.

Mulberry (especially Black Mulberry)

Murraya Paniculate

Orange Jasmine

Nerium Oleander

Oleander

Persea Americana

Avocado

Phoenix Canariensis

Canary Island Date Palm

Pinus sp.

Pine

Platanus sp.

Plane trees

Populus sp.

Poplars

Prunus sp.

Apricot, Cherry, Peach, Plum

Quercus sp.

Oaks

Salix sp.

Willows

Sapium Sebiferum

Chinese Tallow Tree

Schefflera Actinophylla

Umbrella Tree

Schinus Molle

Pepper Tree

Syzygium sp.

Lillypilly

Ulmus sp.

Elms (large)

Wisteria sp.

Wisterias

What can you do if you have a blockage?

If you think you have a blockage, we recommend you contact a licensed plumber for advice and a quote for repairs.

It's a good idea to get three quotes to ensure you choose the right plumber.